Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. I do however have a wonderful tidbit to share with you guys! I met this guy (he's awesome!) and after learning I wrote fanfic he asked if he could have the link to my fanfic profile so he could read them. Well, one thing led to another and I'm pretty sure he's making me a leather bound copy of Set in Stone complete with being made with actual parchment paper. Talk about awesome! So happy :D

Okay, well, all that being said, now comes the apology. I am so sorry for the long wait on this update. I feel bad but school has been horrible. I've hardly every had time to write lately. It has sucked but I could do nothing about it. Finally though, I made enough time to sit down and get this written. I think it turned out pretty well. Let me know what you think!

I'll try and find more time to write on this and on How to Seduce a Weasley (yes, I haven't given up on it yet!) before too long. I have a five page paper I haven't even started looking at due Monday though so my weekend will be very stressful so no promises on getting any done this weekend.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Without further ado…

Chapter 21

Ginny POV

Each step up the walkway of the Burrow through the deep snow brought us closer to the smell and sounds that for so long I associated with Christmas. The smell of fresh baked bread and Mum's famous Christmas ham drifted mixed with the sweet smell of Christmas cookies through cool evening air. It would be the first year I'd be able to share this with Draco, with Stella. I felt like I was floating on a cloud of euphoria. Today had to be the best Christmas Eve ever. I didn't see how it could get any better.

The day had started out by a surprise breakfast in bed compliments of Draco with help from Stella. I saw more than one of her finger prints in the jelly on my toast. I couldn't imagine a better breakfast, despite the slight runniness of the eggs and the only mildly burnt taste of the toast. Draco had improved a lot since the first time he made me breakfast at least. From there, I found a steaming bubble bath waiting in the bathroom and got to enjoy myself while Draco bathed Stella. By the time I slipped into a warm sweater and some worn jeans both she and Draco were squeaky clean and ready for the day.

After bundling all three of us up and adding liberal heating charms we headed out into the cold morning air. We spent the better part of the morning and afternoon at Malfoy Manor with Draco's parents. Lunch was wonderful but I found myself even more eager for the warm and rowdy Christmas dinner that I knew was coming when we got to the Burrow that evening for the holiday with my family. But, it was wonderful at the manor despite my eagerness for the evening. I still felt very touched to be included in their very private Christmas celebration.

Stella was thrilled with it too and by noon was so exhausted she slept straight through lunch with her new stuffed dragon held tightly in her arms. It was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen and I couldn't help but notice the soft look on Draco's face. It was different than a look I'd seen before, more intense. When I asked him about it later that afternoon after we were cuddled up on the couch with Stella contently nursing he smiled that smile again.

"That dragon was mine when I was little," he admitted in a soft voice. "I didn't know Mum had kept it." He shook his head and smiled. "It was my favorite toy when I was young. I never imagined I'd be able to give it to my child though."

That had touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. It was the sweetest thing, knowing the context behind the gift. I think even Stella understood the importance of it unconsciously as she'd yet to let go of it. Even now she had one had it clutched in one hand as she suckled. I couldn't help but thank God for my little family that made me so happy.

I smiled over at Draco through the gently falling snow, one of my hands laced with his my other holding Stella to my hip, as the hum of voices grew louder. He smiled back, his eyes bespeaking of his love. I beamed, never happier than in moments like this. When we got to the door that lead to the kitchen, Draco stepped forward and let go of my hand to open the door, letting me in first with our daughter. "Happy Christmas Mum!" I called happily over the voices and Christmas music that drifted from the living room as soon as I got in out of the frigid winter air.

She turned from where she was rolling dough into balls for rolls and smiled broadly. "Happy Christmas dears," she said warmly, dusting her hands off on her floury apron. "You three are just covered in snow." Whipping out her wand before we could blink, she quickly banished the snow from our clothes and hair.

"It smells wonderful, Mum," Draco piped up, smiling broadly at the older woman before placing a kiss on her cheek. I couldn't help but smile myself at his greeting. I was just a recent development, him addressing my parents as Mum and Dad. It made me extremely happy though.

Mum's face became decidedly pinker as she brushed the comment away and ordered us out of our thick winter cloaks. "Dinner will be ready in a bit. The last to go in the oven will be the rolls when I finish them. Why don't you join the others in the living room? They've been dying for you all to get here," she said, turning back to the task at hand, making enough food to feed the masses.

"You mean they've been dying for us to bring Stella," I teased, knowing how they all loved her so much. Something about being the baby of the baby brought out protective and doting uncles in all of them.

Mum just laughed knowingly and began rolling the dough into balls again.

"You need any help, Mum?" I asked, handing a reaching and squirmy Stella over to Draco. He took her happily and kissed her nose, only to have her grab his own in her tiny, viselike grip. Both Mum and I laughed at his plight as he freed his nose from her little fingers.

"And no dear," Mum finally answered after our laugher died down. "I'm nearly done anyway. Just go in there and say hello to everyone."

"Alright," I conceited, lacing my fingers again with Draco's as we heading into the living room jammed full of people.

At time like this I marveled at how everyone fit in this tiny house. Bill and Fleur were sitting on a love seat with Vicky sprawled across her daddy's lap. Dominique was contently playing with Charlie's long pony tail as he sat leaning against the loveseat with the toddler in his lap. Percy, with a pregnant Audrey at his side, stood by the fire talking to Hermione, probably about cauldron bottoms or house elf rights.

Ron was sandwiched between Fred and George as he sat in an armchair, each of them on one arm of it. Both of their wives, Angelina and Alicia, were on the couch little Molly who was currently trying to climb them like they were no more than furniture themselves. Dad sat watching all of this with a smile from his armchair closest to the kitchen door.

Fifteen people in the living room in all before Draco and I walked in, it was a miracle the house wasn't bursting at the seams. After a loud round a greetings and Stella being quickly whisked away giggling by Fred and George, Draco and I took our seats among the family, squeezed onto the couch with Alicia and Angelina. Molly, temporarily distracted from her climb by the new arrivals, decided to make herself comfortable on Draco's waiting lap.

Mum appeared a few minutes later, floury apron momentarily discarded, and took her seat on Dad's lap, seeing as all the other seats were taken. The conversation eventually turned to the large tree in the corner as Vicky began begging to open presents. Soon even some of my brothers, namely Fred and George, began to plead too. Mum stood firm, though laughing the whole while, and told all three of them no.

Before long, a timer dinged and Mum rushed back into the kitchen. Leaving Draco on the couch and Stella with the twins, I headed after her to set the table. Audrey and Hermione too followed, offering their help to a very busy Mum. She gratefully accepted and, after yelling for some of the boys to come set the table, she directed us to begin piling the massive Christmas feast she'd prepared onto the worn wooden surface of the overly long table.

Within moments of the table being set the scramble of nineteen people finding seats began. Dad took the head of the table, like usual, with Mum on his left. Next to Mum was Angelina then George. Hermione and Ron sat next to them and I was lucky enough to be sat next to the youngest of my brothers to pick food off his plate when he wasn't looking.

Draco took the other end of the table and Stella sat in a highchair on the corner between us. On the other corner of the table sat Molly in her own highchair. Audrey sat beside Percy across the table from me, close enough to little Molly to feed her. Beside Percy was Alicia laughing happily with Fred as he balanced a spoon on his nose, mirroring his twin across the table. Enjoying the antics of her uncles, Vicky sat clapping from her booster seat between Fred and her mum, Fleur. Beside Fleur sat Bill wrestling a very uncooperative Dominique into a highchair between him and Dad.

Once everyone was finally sat down and drooling over the prospect of the sumptuous feast lain out before them, Dad said grace and the meal began. Mayhem: that was the only way to describe the scene that followed. Dozens of hands reached for the food as parents like myself piled food on plates and cut it up for the little ones. Only after Stella had a plate with potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes and other soft foods did I get my own food.

As I pilled food onto my own plate Draco began feeding Stella. Though she was only eight months old and still nursed several times a day, she was beginning to eat more and more solid foods and she loved them. Because of this new diet of hers, she'd begun to grow even more it would seem with each passing day. Already she was crawling around unstoppably, pulling herself up on the furniture for as long as her little legs could hold her, and happily screaming Mama and Dada whenever she wanted for anything.

As the meal progressed more food ended up on Stella's clothing and hair than it did in her mouth but she was having a blast all the same. I knew she'd need a bath tonight; that was for sure. At the very least a few good cleaning charms after dinner would surely be employed to all of the little ones, not just Stella. I looked over to see Molly pulling on her little red pigtail with gravy covered hands, much to the dismay of her mother. Fred and George were tossing food at each other, catching it expertly in their mouths, which prompted Vicky to do the same. Needless to say, Fleur was none too happy about the glazed ham that slid down the little girl's new Christmas dress.

When finally everyone had eaten their full and then some, everyone helped to clear the dishes off the table. It was set aside to be dealt with later as Mum pulled out piping pies, soft Christmas cookies and plenty of homemade ice cream. As everyone took what they wanted, for there was plenty to go around, I helped Mum pour mugs of hot chocolate. Again we found ourselves seated around the table, now enjoying a lovely desert.

Contented sighs mixed with quieter conversation as the evening everyone wound down and the stars outside began to peak through the clouds. People, too full to move or even care to, relaxed back in their chairs. Stella started fussing and I quickly scooped her up and held her in my lap. Mum had already used several cleaning charms on all the children so she was clean as could be. She immediately snuggled into my chest, content to sit where she was. I was surprised she wasn't asleep already, having had such a long day.

All at once, it seemed, everyone decided to move to the living room. It was like a fire sweeping through the sluggish crowed. Conversation flared back up. Young ones perked back up, especially little Vicky who had, moments before, been drifted off on Bill's lap. As we all filled into the living room, Draco surprisingly stepped forward and offered to pass out the gifts.

I saw a look pass between Mum and Dad, that secret smile of theirs I never could figure out. I pushed the confusion away as I took my seat on the couch nearest the tree with Stella on my lap. Within moments of everyone finding a spot, presents began passing around the room. Stella was showered with gifts and fussed each time I had to take one away so she could open another. We went through the same thing this morning at Malfoy Manor too. Finally though, I helped her open the last one and she was so thrilled with the fact she got to keep the new toy wand that she squealed with happiness.

I myself opened a small number of presents, pulling on my new Weasley sweater as soon as I opened it. Draco too was sporting a dark green sweater with a silver D emblazoned on the front. Even Stella had on a small sweater of her own with a W on the front. It made me so happy, looking around the room and seeing all the different sweaters my family wearing. Mum had sure been busy this year. Nearly twenty sweaters had been quite a task to take on.

After setting all the newly unwrapped presents of ours aside, I relaxed back onto the couch. Draco was passing out the last couple presents around and Stella was beginning to drift off against my chest. Mum, seeing her sleepy granddaughter, came over and motioned for me to let her hold her. Knowing how little she ever got to hold her while she slept, I gladly handed my sleeping baby over.

"Looks like there's only one more gift left," Draco said, drawing everyone's attention as he stood up. Looking over at him, I watched as he pulled a small box from the branches of the tree. Black and velvety, a tiny green bow on top, I felt my heart speed up and my mouth go dry. Could that be?

Taking the box gently in his hands, he came and knelt on one knee before me. "Ginny Weasley, my beautiful, wonderful Ginny," he said softly, taking my hand in his free one. All around us, the room went silence, from anticipation or shock I wasn't sure. Quite honestly I didn't care either at this point. I was lost in Draco's soft grey eyes as his words flowed around me.

"I have loved you for a long while and that love only gets stronger with each passing day. Together we are raising a beautiful little girl, hopefully only the first of many children to come. I love both of you with all my heart. I want to grow old with you, watch our children grow up and have kids of their own. I want to be by your side when your hair turns grey. I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he said with soft determination as he opened the velvet box to reveal the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen. "Do you want to grow old with me too? Will you be my wife?"

Looking into his eyes, surrounded by my family, I had never felt more love than I did in this moment. For him to have done this in front of my very large family was a testament to how deep his love for me went. It took a lot of courage to ask in front of all of them, all those older brothers that, not even two years ago, would have vied for the chance to hex him. But, it didn't matter anymore. Nothing mattered but the fact this man, the man who I loved beyond anything I'd ever imagined possible, was asking me to marry him. What else could I say but the answer I knew was right?

"Yes," I said, my voice coming out in a chocked whisper as tears filled my eyes and began making tracks down my cheeks. "Yes." This time my voice was firmer and before I could blink I was swept off my feet and twirled around, held by the familiar strong arms that I'd come to depend on.

It was a testament to how much my family had come to accept and love Draco too as cheers filled the room. When Draco finally set me back on my feet and gently slipped the beautiful ring onto my finger, congratulations flew from every direction. The noise woke Stella and she let out a cry. Draco had her in his arms in seconds and her cries died down instantly. Wrapping one arm around me, the other holding onto Stella, Draco held us close. My fiancé, my husband-to-be, my family.

Well, there we go. He did it, finally popped the question! Was it okay? Let me know what you liked about it! That being said, where do you think they'll get married? Will it be big or small? Extravagant? Let me know how you think it should go!

And remember, a happy author writes better and faster! So review and make me happy!